Wahab made this known during the Fela Debates 17, held on Monday at the NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of activities marking Felabration 2025.
He explained that the Lagos State Government recognises the delicate relationship between humans and water — not just as a force of nature but as an enabler of life and progress.
According to him, the theme of the event, “Water (No) Get Enemy,” is particularly fitting because, for centuries, water has shaped Lagos’ economy through trade, fishing, transport, and settlement. He added that water lies at the heart of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDGs 6, 2, 11, and 13.
“The statement may sound simple, but it carries wisdom as old as humanity itself,” Wahab said. “Nobody can live without water, nobody can truly fight against it because water is life itself.”
He stressed that Lagos is a city that lives and breathes water, warning that fighting against it is “a battle already lost.”
The Commissioner highlighted the unique climate challenges facing the state, including rising sea levels, extreme heat, and recurrent flooding. He said this reality informed the government’s design of a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan to safeguard the city and mitigate flooding.
However, Wahab lamented that residents often act in defiance of environmental laws by building on floodplains, blocking drainage channels, and reclaiming wetlands. He said such actions, largely driven by personal gain, violate the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017 and contribute to man-made disasters across the city.
He cited recent flooding incidents in Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and other areas, describing them as preventable and a direct result of human negligence.
Wahab warned that the state government will no longer tolerate such violations, vowing to enforce environmental laws strictly to protect lives and properties. “There will be no hiding place for defaulters and saboteurs,” he stated, adding that the government would not fold its arms while a few individuals endanger the larger population for selfish reasons.
He further disclosed that beyond the ban on single-use plastics, the government remains committed to sustainable waste management solutions. According to him, Lagos recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jospong Group to convert waste at the Olusosun dumpsite into wealth and replicate the initiative at the Epe landfill under the Harvest Waste programme.
Wahab added that in collaboration with C40 Cities, the state has launched a biogas facility at Ikosi Fruit Market, which converts 500kg of fruit waste daily into clean energy. He noted that the market now enjoys consistent street lighting, access to cooking gas, and phone charging stations — all powered by waste.
